Jim was born July 9, l937 in Kentucky.
He lived in Ohio as a child and
then moved to Michigan where
he spent most of his life, moving to
Las Vegas in 1996 to look for
better breathing in a dryer climate.
Jim died from emphysema
September 16, 1999, following lung reduction
surgery as part of the NETT program.
Jim was very positive about having the surgery, and carried that attitude
into the operation. He had a greatdeal of courage in facing the challenges
of his illness. He very much wanted more good years to do the things
he loved---traveling to places where he could enjoy God's scenery, hunting,
doing projects at his workbench, enjoying a full meal with his friends,
spending time with his children.
Jim was a peaceful person,
centered and spiritual. He trusted God to keep him on the right path.
He had a wonderful sense of humor, sometimes a little wicked. He
had lots of friends, and probably never realized how much he meant to everyone.
Now all the EFFORTS angels
are watching out for him.
Jim left a legacy at Sunrise
Health Strategies, the rehab arm of Sunrise
Hospital in Las Vegas.
He had been in their pulmonary rehab program for a year when he started
considering LVRS and looked into the NETT program at UCSan Diego Medical
Center. The NETT people told him he would have tomove to San Diego
for three months for their rehab, and he wanted to know whyhe couldn't
just do what he'd been doing all along. He told NETT about the Sunrise
facility and put everyone in contact with each other. It all came
together beautifully, and now Sunrise is serving as the satellitepulmonary
rehab facility for local people who are in the NETT study anywhere in the
country.